Artell: "Defeat Has To Be A Learning Curve"

1 April 2017

David Artell gives us his post match reaction following 2-1 defeat to U's

Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell was disappointed that his side's mini-run of wins came to an end against a well organised Cambridge United side this afternoon but he was quick to state that we had to use the 2-1 defeat as a stiff learning curve. Crewe's run of three straight wins came to an end due to Luke Berry's well taken brace at Gresty Road.

Following the 2-1 defeat, Artell told the club's official web-site: “We huffed and puffed but we didn’t do well enough with the ball. I’ve said to them that one bad performance in six games, is an improvement to where we were but we still have to eradicate it going forward.

“I cannot be too critical but at the same time, I cannot accept it.

“We were disappointed with the way we conceded the two goals. The first one the lad gets bundles over and it leads to a goal. The second one has come from a free-kick and give the lad (Berry) credit it’s a great finish.

“It’s on the back of three clean sheets so I won’t be too critical but it’s a set-back. We have to make sure we learn from it. It wasn’t for the want of trying and we know we had to be better on the ball. I thought our tactical naivety was the biggest thing. There were more than one or two incidents where we should have done better.

“The bigger picture is we are heading in the right direction. We have done well over the last 12 weeks or so but it is the first time for a while that we haven’t scored the first goal.

“We have to keep having the belief that we are good enough. They had two banks of four and their shape was very good and give them credit but we have to keep working, keep developing as a team and as a group of players.

“We have to try and get better when teams come and play two banks of four against us and make sure our play is better in and around the opposition box.

Artell added: “We have had a set-back but we have had them before and next week against an in-form Accrington team will be another good challenge for us.”